Viva Madrid in Madrid's Las Letras is the 1856-founded tile-fronted cocktail bar, with a long bar, gin tonic carte and the daily-changing tapas pizarra under the original ceramic-tile ceiling.
Food program: Tapas
Tip: Walk-in only. The terrace on Calle Manuel Fernandez seats 8; cocktails 10 to 14 euros, tapas 5 to 12.
Address: Calle Manuel Fernandez y Gonzalez 7, 28014 Madrid
The Passenger on Calle del Pez in Madrid's Malasana is the train-carriage-themed cocktail bar with a jazz programme, signature cocktails and a daily-changing curated music list since 2013.
Signature drink: Jazz Age cocktails
Food: Snacks
Tip: Walk-in. The carriage-shaped room seats 30; live jazz Friday and Saturday. The Jazz Age cocktails run 11 to 13 euros.
El Jardin Secreto in Madrid's Conde Duque is the rooftop garden bar at the Hotel Innside Madrid, with views over Plaza Comendadoras, a vermut programme and a daily-changing small-plates carte.
Signature drink: Vermut tonic
Food: Tapas, small plates
Tip: Open April to October only. Walk-in until 21:00, reservation required after. The vermut tonic (8 euros) is the headline.
Azotea del Circulo on Calle de Alcala in Madrid's Centro is the rooftop of the 1926 Circulo de Bellas Artes art club, with 360-degree views over Gran Via and a cocktail-and-tapas carte.
Signature drink: Gin tonic
Food: Tapas, small plates
Tip: Entry fee 5 euros. Open daily 11:00-02:00. The sunset slot (19:30) is the busiest; book on Tickets.com to skip the queue.
The Room Madrid in Salamanca is the speakeasy-style cocktail bar by chef Paco Perez since 2019, in a hidden basement behind a hotel reception, with a 40-cover bar and signature mezcal-led carte.
Signature drink: Mezcal Old Fashioned
Food: Small plates
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Entry through the Hotel Aranda; reservation recommended for weekend evenings.
Casa Camacho in Madrid's Malasana has poured the yayo (vermut with gin and seltzer, served from height) since 1928. The room runs on cash, formica tables and standing-room only, untouched since the 1960s.
Signature drink: Yayo (vermut, gin, sifon)
Food: Bocadillos, tortilla
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays. The yayo is 3 euros, the boquerones 3, the bocadillo de calamares 4.50; nothing else on offer.
El Imperial near Gran Via in Madrid is the cocktail bar by Diego Cabrera's team since 2012, with the Crystal Negroni (clarified Negroni) and the modern cocktail-tasting carte that won World's 50 Best 2018.
Signature drink: Crystal Negroni
Food: Small plates
Tip: Walk-in. The room is small (40 seats); booking recommended for weekend evenings. Crystal Negroni runs 14 euros.
